Take a Bow

:My random thoughts:
I was attracted by the performance theme of this novel.  Since I would one day like to go into stage acting myself, it stood out to me.  I was impressed with the book, and some of it hit cords inside of me, but on the whole it lacked 'stuff'. It was fun, entertaining, but there really wasn't any material that would make it turn into a classic, or best seller.

:Publisher's Description:

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and  bane mates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

:info to know:

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg

My recommended age: 12+

Their recommended age:12+

Publisher: Bantam

Number of Pages: 288

Characters: I didn't get particularly attached to any of them outside of Emme. Me and her have a lot alike.  We both like to help people, and both bite off more then we can chew when assisting others.  But outside of that, none really struck me as, "Wow, these are awesome people". 

Plot:

It was slow, to say the least.  There really wasn't a climax.  Most of the trials were internal, and there really wasn't a Villain to work around.  Rather, it was just a story of how the last bit of their school year went. 

 

Writing Style:

I might not have really loved the book, but Ms. Eulburg has a very good writing style.  It was clear, and easy to read without feeling childish.  This book felt very different then normal Teen flicks.

 

Cover:

So so. Nothing spectacular, or overly pitiful.

 

Ending: It was just the end. No battle was won, no case was solved, no journey finished. Just the end, Emme and Ethan get together (As I expected, I mean, come on. It was obvious they would). Carter leaves the entertainment genre to pursue his dream, and Sophie is becomes the next star-terror. The end.

 

World Building: It gave you a good, I thought, taste of a drama school.

  Language: None.

Drugs and Drink:  Ethan has a drinking problem that nearly ruined his career, and all he held dear.

Romance and sexual content:  Ethan gets and dumps girls like crazy, Carter and Sophie have a rocky relationship, and Ethan and Emme become a pair in the end, a kissing scene or two. But nothing objectionable that I can remember.

 

Violence: I can't remember any....

 

Ratings

It wasn't stellar star-tastic. But it wasn't terrible either.  I think I can sum it up best by saying it was just 'there'.  Its the type of book you read once, don't get attached to, put up on your shelf, and forget about.  

I feel I have to give it a:

It's not terrible enough for a 2, but not good enough for a 4.  I liked it, but didn't love it.  And, I'll probably forget about it in a year.